Set to make his singing debut alongside Salman’s rumoured lover, Maniesh Paul discusses recording Harjai with the Romanian model

Paul and Vantur in the video

That Iulia Vântur decided to explore a singing career in a language she once barely comprehended is noteworthy. Months after the Romanian model commenced learning Hindi to duet with Himesh Reshammiya, her latest collaborator, Maniesh Paul, heaps praise on her enunciation. “Iulia picks up Hindi easily. Her pronunciation is perfect,” Paul, who recently wrapped up a single titled Harjai with her, tells mid-day.

The collaboration, which marks Paul’s singing debut, was a result of a brief jamming session at Salman Khan’s Panvel farmhouse. “Iulia and I began to sing and realised that our voices sounded great together. It wasn’t hard for her to record in the language. Even if she struggled with certain words, she could grasp them easily with a little assistance. She can belt out high notes with panache.”

Salman Khan

Given that Paul shares an affable relationship with Khan, he inevitably shared a bond with Vântur too. “We have a lot in common. We’re Leos, we are both TV hosts, and passionate about singing. We would crack-up while performing. Our director, Shabina [Khan] struggled to control us,” says Paul, who also features in the music video with Vântur. “We shot for the love track at Mumbai’s Mukesh Mills and Bombay Adda. It revolves around lovers who part ways. They eventually realise that they can’t live without each other, and reunite,” says the actor-host, the storyline’s banality not lost on him. “We didn’t want the story to be complicated,” he reasons.

Ahead of the single’s release tomorrow, Paul says he will chart his musical career in accordance with the response that his first track garners. “I have a couple of songs in the pipeline. But I’ll release them after witnessing listeners’ reactions to this number. Although I had won a scholarship in college due to my singing skills, this is my first professional endeavour in the field.” Paul has Khan to thank for the encouragement. “When I told Salman sir that I wanted to try my hand at singing, he said, ‘You should sing professionally.’ He always supports me.”

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Post Tiger Zinda Hai turning out to be the massive blockbuster, Salman Khan the saviour says age hasn’t withered his somersault

Salman Khan

Few can negate the fact that before it became commonplace, Salman Khan popularised the notion of fitness in Bollywood. That age hasn’t been able to dampen his physical prowess is evident with the action sequences he pulled off in his recent release, Tiger Zinda Hai. In an interview to mid-day, the actor likens his body to a diesel engine that doesn’t tire when kicked into gear. “I can’t do handstands, or put my body upside down. But, apart from that, I can easily pull off quick movements, like forward and back somersault, or floor rolls. My body is like a diesel engine, ek baar garam ho gaya toh chalta rahega,” Khan says.

A string of romantic outings in the recent years, he says, was less demanding on his body, and the actor ached to pack in a punch for reel. “There was a spree of romantic films in my career, and I realised I was getting lethargic. I wanted to be part of films that would take my fitness to the next level. So, whether I need to work out excessively to look hefty, gain weight, or even lose it, I am game. Even though I am aware that this [fluctuation of weight] is harmful for the body, such roles are satisfying.” Khan’s return as an action hero, it appears, has also been celebrated by fans, with Tiger Zinda Hai moving from strength-to-strength at the box office. At Rs 33.75 crore, the film’s opening day earnings were the highest for a non-holiday release. It also became the biggest single-day earner with Rs 45.53 crore, on day three (December 24) of hitting screens. The film has already amassed Rs 272.79 crore in 12 days.

However, the numbers don’t seem to appease the actor as much as the audience’s love does. “For us, it is the viewers’ reactions that matter. We feel overwhelmed with the love that the film has received. The response has been endearing. This is my second film with Ali Abbas Zafar, and I am looking forward to working with him again.” While his collaboration with former flame Katrina Kaif after five years was being touted as the biggest recipe for success, Khan says the unit was more concerned about the plot. “Even if we spent money on enhancing the production, the film wouldn’t appeal if the plot was weak. We managed to keep the love story alive. That worked.”

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Tiger Zinda Hai might have become the biggest film of 2017 in India after ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’, but Bollywood superstar Salman Khan says that for him, love and appreciation of the audiences matters the most

star

Tiger Zinda Hai might have become the biggest film of 2017 in India after ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’, but Bollywood superstar Salman Khan says that for him, love and appreciation of the audiences matters the most. The 52-year-old actor is overwhelmed with the response that his recently released movie has received from the fans. Ali Abbas Zafar ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ has earned Rs 272.79 crore in just 11 days.

The ‘Tubelight’ star said, “For us, it is the audiences’ love and reactions that matter the most, and we feel overwhelmed with the love that ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ has garnered. I am grateful to one and all for treating this film as their own; the response has been truly endearing. ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ is my second film with Ali Abbas Zafar, and I am looking forward to working with him again,” he added. YRF’s ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ is riding on incredibly positive audience reviews and has shattered several box office records so far. The film has been on a dream run at the box office right from the first day of its release and has created multiple box office histories.

The movie revolves around RAW agent Avinash ‘Tiger’ Singh Rathore and Pakistani spy Zoya rescuing captured nurses by the IS and stars Salman and Katrina Kaif in leading roles. The flick is a sequel to Kabir Khan’s ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, which also had the same actors in the leading roles.

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Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, who play intelligence agents in the recent release Tiger Zinda Hai, have been shown married and with a child in the action flick. Director Ali Abbas Zafar says this was a crucial decision they had to take for the sequel.

Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan in Tiger Zinda Hai

Zafar explains, “In the sequel, we were clear that we present Tiger (Khan) and Zoya (Kaif) as a couple who choose duty over family. Anyone whose heart is in the right place would do the same and stand up for their country. The idea is to rise above daily life for the larger cause of humanity.”

The director says this also provided a connect with the audience. “When you see Tiger and Zoya as a couple, the ability to relate to their characters increases. Also, by choosing their country they are imparting values to their child. It is the duty of every parent to tell their child that they should always stand for humanity and peace.”

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Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by mid-day online. This story is published from a syndicated feed

Salman Khan is a brand in himself. He’s a mega star, millionaire, Bollywood’s ‘bhai’ and every woman’s ultimate crush. When one stands at such a platform of awesomeness, do you expect his birthday bash to be something trivial and on a minuscule scale? No way! He partied like a boss with his friends and family at his Panvel farmhouse on Wednesday night.

On a normal weekday, the record-breaking Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s action entertainer ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ notches up a humongous 21.60 crore, total India collection races past 173 crores in just 5 days

‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ goes past 173 crores in 5 days, has a fantastic Tuesday! On a normal weekday, the record-breaking action entertainer Tiger Zinda Hai notches up a humongous 21.60 crore, total India collection races past 173 crore in just 5 days! ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ is on a dream run at the box office. The Salman Khan entertainer had an outstanding hold on Tuesday, a normal working day, to put up a collection of 21.60 crore nett in India. The film has now earned 173.07 crore nett in just 5 days!

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.

The record-shattering run of Tiger Zinda Hai will see the film go well over the 200 crore mark in just 1 week. With the New Year Holidays kicking in, the high-octane visual extravaganza is set to post mind-blowing numbers during the second weekend riding on outstanding audience reviews.

The adrenaline pumping film’s box office run has seen it create multiple Box Office histories in the Hindi cinema industry. From the Biggest Ever Non-Holiday record by a Bollywood film, to the Biggest Ever single day collection of 45.53 crore nett on Day 3, to the Highest Ever 3-day weekend, to the Biggest Ever 4-day extended Holiday weekend – Tiger Zinda Hai has set huge new benchmarks for the industry to chase.

Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, Tiger Zinda Hai also stars Katrina Kaif in the lead role. Salman and Katrina have teamed up for the first time in 5 long years.

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Salman Khan is known to command a massive fan following across the country and is having his fans rejoice over the festive film release. The actor has thanked his fans for their support

The festive season in India has kick-started much in advance, courtesy Superstar Salman Khan‘s ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’. The actor who is known to command a massive fan following across the country is having his fans rejoice over the festive film release. ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ marks to be yet another action entertainer with Salman Khan front lining the espionage thriller. Anticipation levels have been at a peak with Salman fans going into a frenzy. But in between this, the superstar took to his twitter to share a message for his fans, he wrote, “Yeh saare rockstars ko thank you. Always accha kaam karte raho, (Do good work) Negativity ko kick aur positivity ko hug karo. Have the best end to this year, Enjoy Tiger, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Opening to Housefull theatres, the first-day first show of Salman Khan’s film has been celebrated with much gusto across quarters. The theatre also witnessed kids in attendance who skipped school to be a part of the audience. Accompanied by their families setting foot in the theatre to grab the first show of Salman’s latest entertainer, Tiger Zinda Hai has been garnering unprecedented footfalls.

For theatres in parts of the country, Salman fans have been reveling on the streets to mark the return of Tiger on the big screen. With the release of Salman Khan’s actioner, the love for cinema by the audience is being seen across parts of the city.

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Bollywood Salman Khan rang in his 52nd birthday at his Panvel farmhouse, with kin and close friends in attendance and here’s a detailed list of what transpired there

Until last year, the highlights of a Salman Khan birthday party would be a decadent bash and a bevvy of Bollywood stars surrounding the Dabangg actor. But that’s not the case anymore.

Keeping a low profile like last year, Khan rang in his 52nd birthday in the company of his family and close friends at his Panvel farmhouse last night. A source says, “This birthday is all the more special for Salman because Tiger Zinda Hai is ruling the box office.

Arbaaz Khan

The film’s director Ali Abbas Zafar and Salman’s co-star and friend Katrina Kaif were with him last night. While the celebrations were grand, the guest list wasn’t. It comprised only his close friends and family.”

“Katrina, Ali, and cricketer MS Dhoni and wife Sakshi travelled to Panvel after attending Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s reception last evening. Salman’s former girlfriend and Alvira’s close friend, Sangeeta Bijlani, was also in attendance,” says the insider.

Anil Kapoor

A guest from the venue tells mid-day that the bash was an intimate affair with less than 100 guests in attendance. “They were requested to not post pictures on social media until the party got over. The party took place in the garden, which was lit up. Salman’s sisters Alvira and Arpita looked after the food menu.

Sangeeta Bijlani

The spread comprised Indian cuisine, including kebabs and biryani. Iulia and Salman danced to Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hai.” The source adds that Khan has a special gift for his fans. “His brand, Being Human Clothing, is giving a flat 50 per cent off to patrons today.”

Katrina Kaif and Ali Abbas Zafar

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With Rs 114.93 cr, Salman Khan sets new single-day record on Sunday With a business of Rs 45.53 crore; scores highest opener after Baahubali: The Conclusion

It was a merry Christmas for Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, who are sure to kick-start 2018 on a high note, considering Tiger Zinda Hai is ruling the box office. With a business of Rs 45.53 crore on Sunday, the Ali Abbas Zafar directorial venture set a new single-day record for Bollywood. The film raked in Rs 114.93 crore over the weekend, becoming the second highest grosser after Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which collected Rs 128 crore in its first weekend (only the Hindi dubbed version).

Salman Khan in Tiger Zinda Hai

Khan’s Tubelight didn’t light up at the box office, but trade experts feel the superstar is back with a bang. Distributor-exhibitor Akshaye Rathi says, “Salman is critic and box-office proof. One bad film cannot deter his stardom. Everyone expected Tiger Zinda Hai to get a huge opening, but the numbers are insane.” Though the movie didn’t hit screens on a holiday, the positive word of mouth helped, says Rathi.

Trade analyst Komal Nahta feels Tiger Zinda Hai is “rewriting the box-office history in Hindi cinema”. “There is no stopping Salman and the film. Since Christmas was a holiday in India and abroad, the movie crossed Rs 150 crore on the fourth day. With the festive season and New Year next weekend, it’ll certainly earn Rs 200 crore.” Besides the film setting a record, Khan has also become the first B-Town actor to be part of 12 films that belong to the 100-crore club.

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